NITI Aayog
Atal Innovation Mission in collaboration with Dassault Systemes Foundation launch Student Entrepreneurship Program 3.0
Program designed to motivate school students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs
Atal Innovation Mission  NITI Aayog in collaboration with La Fondation Dassault Systemes  in India on Monday launched the third series of the ‘Student Entrepreneurship Program’  for the young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs .
The theme of SEP 3.0 is based on the ‘Made in 3D - Seed the Future Entrepreneurs Program’, conceptualized and rolled out in France by La Main à la Pate Foundation and La Fondation Dassault Systemes Europe in 2017.
As part of this program, a team from each school  will be allocated seed funding towards creating pseudo start-up, design and prototype their innovation using 3D printing, prepare marketing campaign, define product pricing and create expansion strategy. With this they will receive real feel of ‘How a startup works!’. At the end of the program, each school’s pseudo startup will participate in a playful competition and present their marketing campaign in front of experts from industry and academia.
Keeping the essence of the program in mind, SEP3.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dassault Systemes Foundation volunteers and gain - Mentoring support, Prototyping and testing guidance, End-User feedback, guidance on Intellectual Property Rights, by working as pseudo start-ups through a hands-on and structured program.
A total of 51 teams from 29 states are selected for the “Made in 3D - Seed the Future Entrepreneurs Program’ under SEP 3.0. Top 20 teams of ATL Marathon 2019, 10 teams selected by Dassault Systemes Foundation, 10 teams from Aspirational Districts and 10 teams from Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and North east regions are selected. Out of these 16 schools will have ‘all girls’ teams to motive them to be future women entrepreneurs.
One of the interesting parts of the program will be interaction opportunities for students and teachers, between French and Indian schools. In addition to the development of Innovation mindset and exposure to start-up culture, school students and teachers will have a unique opportunity to interact and collaborate with French schools and French students for cultural and technical interactions.
Mission Director, AIM, NITI Aayog Dr. Chintan Vaishnav while congratulating and complimenting top students of ATL Marathon 2019 said that SEP is a life changing opportunity for the young innovators to reach new heights.
“All the students who participated in this program must know that they have climbed the third range of mountains in terms of growing in the field of entrepreneurship having already worked on problem and innovation. I have no doubt in saying that these students are going to excel. SEP is not only about bringing solutions to table, but knowing how crucial the solution is for all of us,” he said.
Chairman, Dassault Systemes Foundation India Sudarshan Mogasale, while sharing his views said, “With this edition, we worked with Atal Innovation Mission to assist our future generation of students become Future Innovators.”
He further added that the programme seeks to provide opportunity to school children to develop an entrepreneurial and inventive mind set, as well as suitable exposure through activities-based learning, exploration and challenges. School students and teachers will have a unique opportunity to connect and interact with French schools and students for cultural and technical knowledge sharing.
Speaking during the virtual launch of SEP, Mission Director, Aspirational District Program NITI Aayog, Dr. Rakesh Ranjan said that SEP falls in line with the vision and mission of aspirational district program and that it has given a new hope to students who were looking forward for such opportunities.
“There is no dearth of talent in the aspirational districts of India so I am sure SEP is going to be a huge success going forward,” he added.
In his address, Attaché for Scientific and Academic Cooperation for Western Region at French Embassy in Mumbai, Dr Olivier FUDYM, said “Students learning for this pedagogy of hands-on learning is going to be a change from conventional learning.”
Moreover, AIM and La Fondation Dassault Systemes in India announced launch of the SEP 3.0 in the presence of AIM’s Mission Director - Chintan Vaishnav, Chairman, Dassault Systemes Foundation - Sudarshan Mogasale, Mission Director, Aspirational District Program, NITI Aayog - Dr. Rakesh Ranjan and Attaché for Scientific and Academic Cooperation for Western Region at French Embassy in Mumbai - Dr Olivier FUDYM.
The Top teams of SEP 3.0 are selected through the ATL Marathon, a nationwide contest where students identify community challenges and create grassroot innovations and solutions within their ATL lab.
Industry partnerships like these are critical to nurture the inventiveness of young students, and will enable them to create our planet a better place.